Ignition mechanism for internal



Dec. 10, 1935. w. J. SPENGLER 2,024,015

IGNITION MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 10, 1931 6 Shets-Sheet 1 Filnlllllln 'lllllllvllliii lzVVE/VTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1935. w. J. SPENGLER IGNITION MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 10, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/VVENTOR A TTORNEY Dec. 10, 1935. w J SPENGLER 2,024,015

IGNITION MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 10, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVE/VTOR ATTORNEY W. J. SPENGLER IGNITION MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 10, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A MI 1/ r l/VVENTOR BY d. S

ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1935. w. E E 2,024,015

IGNITION MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 10, 1951 6 Sheets$heet 5 43; a 12 432 a {D 431 A i INVENT U/gbberd. Spengier ATTORNEY 10, 1935. w, PENLER 2,024,015

IGNITION MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June 10, 1931 6 Sheets-Shet 6 INVENTOR BY Mai/tel" J 'SpeH/ger ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 PATENT OFFICE IGNITION MECHANISM FOR- INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Walter J. Spengler, Sidney, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Delaware South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Application June 10, 1931, Serial No. 543,343

15 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition mechanism for internal combustion engines and more particularly to breaker and distributor apparatus for battery ignition systems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved breaker and distributor mechanism particularly adapted for battery ignition systems of multi-cylinder internal combustio'n engines.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device embodying a dual breaker-distributor mechanism for use in twin ignition systems.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the breaker mechanism and the distributor mechanism are operated from a unitary driving element, and the various coil, breaker and distributor units are each readily removable and replaceable without disturbing any of the other elements of the mechanism.

A further object is to provide such a device in which each element is readily accessible, and the moving parts including particularly the make and break mechanism are arranged so that they can be exposed for observation and/or adjustment during the normal operation of the device.

Another object is to provide such a device embodying provisions whereby the same may be readily and quickly adapted for either clock-wise or counter clock-wise rotation.

Another object is to provide such a device having novel means for assuring proper lubrication of the moving parts over long periods of use.

A still further object is to provide such an arrangement which is compact and efiicient, making possible the use of comparatively small blocks of insulating material for the high tension electrodes.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the various units are so constructed that the high tension circuits may be readily shielded to prevent radiation therefrom.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the arrangement of the units is such that the distributor mechanism may be removed and the make and break mechanism operated independently thereof and used as a replacement unit in installations provided with separate distributors.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of a preferred form of the invention showing the parts in assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device with one of the coil units partially disassembled;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device taken at a different angle from Fig. 2 and showing the various units further disassembled;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the receptacle for the breaker mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the breaker mechanism;

Fig.- 6 is a section of the breaker mechanism and the receptacle therefo'r taken substantially on the lines 66 of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken substantially on the lines |--I of Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an oil guard for the breaker mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the distributor mechanism showing its relation to the-output electrodes;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the distributor mechanism and output electrode units in connection with a circuit diagram of the ignition system;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the device partially disassembled showing a preferred method of shielding the output terminal block and conductors;

Fig. 12 is a detail of the same partly in section showing the parts in assembled position;

Fig. 13 is an elevation partly in section on a somewhat reduced scale of the device with the distributor mechanism removed to form a replacement unit for the breaker mechanism in dual ignition systems; and 36 Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 11 with the mounting flange removed.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the device comprises 40 a hollow or skeleton frame I of generally rectangular shape having a pair of caps 2 and 3 mounted on two opposite sides thereof, a pair of terminal insulator blocks 4 and 6 (Fig. 10) on the other two opposite sides thereof, a breaker mechanism 1 adjustably mounted in the top thereof, and a rotor shaft 8 journaled axially therein. The frame I is provided on its bottom with a flange 9 whereby the device may be suitably mounted on the frame of the engine, not 60 shown, and the rotor shaft 8 is provided with connecting means such as key II and nut l2 for attaching suitable coupling means thereto whereby the shaft may be driven from a rotating part of the engine in proper timed relation therewith.

The caps 2 and 3 are located on the frame I by means such as dowels 5 (Fig. 2) and are suitably these coils are of identical construction and arev similarly connected in the ignition circuits of the engine, a description of one thereof will be willcient. Each transformer comprises a laminated magnetic core I 6 rigidly mounted in its cap as by means of screws N (Fig. 3), the magnetic circuit thereof being substantially completed by a U-shaped magnetic member l8 also rigidly mounted in the cap as by means of screws l9. The usual primary and secondary transformer coils are mounted on the core I 6, one terminal of the primary coil being connected as indicated at 2| (Fig. 1) to a conducting strip 22 which is connected through a resistance 23 to the input terminal 28. The opposite end of saidprimary coil is connected as indicated at 24 to a conducting strip 25 which is connected at one end to a condenser 26 and at its other end to a conducting strip 21 having a fiat contact portion 28 forming a coil terminal which extends within the frame l when the cap is mounted in its normal position thereon as indicated in Fig. 1. A bolt 29 is provided for holding the strips 22 and 25 in proper relationwith the end plates 3| and .32 of the transformer coils, said bolt being suitably insulated from the strips as indicated at 33 and 34. The opposite terminal-of the condenser 26 is grounded to the frame of the coil as indicated at 35. The inner terminal of the secondary of the transformer is, as usual, connected to the outer terminal of the primary coil, and the outer terminal of the secondary is connected to a high tension terminal member 36 which extends within the frame I when the coil unit is in assembled position thereon.

The upper end of frame I is provided with a partition 31 and a circular flange 38 forming a seat for the breaker mechanism 1. The partition 31 forms on its under side a seat for an antifriction bearing 39 for the rotor shaft 8, and on its upper side is formed with a recess 4| adapted to be filled with absorbent material 42 held in place by suitable means such as a diaphragm 43, and adapted to be charged with lubricant as by' means of an oil cup 44 (Fig. 6) connected thereto by a canal 45. The diaphragm 43 is preferably retained in place by peening over the edge of the opening 4| as indicated at 40. Openings 46 are formed in the partition 31 to allow the passage of the primary coil terminals 28 therethrough, whereby the upper surfaces of said terminals are substantially flush with the upper surface of said partition when the coil units are in assembled position.

The breaker mechanism 1 is mounted in a shallow cup 41 (Figs. and 6) adapted to fit slidably within the flange 38 of frame I and normally retained therein with slight rotational freedom by suitable means such as a pair of posts 48 fixed in the partition 31 of the frame I, extending through arcuate slots 49 in the bottom of the cup 41 and having yielding means such as springs 5| (Fig.3) bearing on said cup and retained on the posts by collars 52 having a bayonet connection with the ends of said posts.

The breaker mechanism, which is in duplicate to cooperate with the two transformer coils, comprises a pal? of breaker arms in the form of bellcrank levers 53 (Fig. 5) having contacts 54 at one end normally urged into engagement with fixed contacts 55 by means such as springs 56 attached to the levers 53 as shown at 51, and to fixed anchorages 58 by means of screws 59. The other arms of the bell-crank levers are provided 5 with cam followers 6| by which the levers are operated, the motion thereof being limited by adjustable stops '62 mounted on fixed posts 60. The anchorages 58 and posts 66 extend upwardly from a mounting plate 64 which is retained in the bottom of the cup 41 by suitable means such 'as screws 65. The bell-crank levers 53 are pivoted on posts 63 (Fig. 6) which are also mounted on plate 64 and are formed hollow for the reception of oil wicks 66. These wicks are arranged to contact at their lower ends with portions of the absorbent material 42 extending through arcuate openings 61 in thediaphragm 43 and are adapted to convey lubricant therefrom through openings 68 in said posts 63 to the bearing surfaces of said posts and breaker arms 53.

Contacts 55 are adjustably mounted on posts 69 extending upwardly from the plate 64 and suitably insulated therefrom as indicated at 1|. Conducting strips 12 (Fig. 1) are arranged to connect the posts 69 with laminated spring brushes 13 adapted to make contact with the surfaces of the primary coil terminals 28 when the parts are in assembled position.

A cam 14 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of rotor shaft 8 by suitable means such as a key 18 (Fig. 9) and cap screw 15, and is arranged to operate the cam followers 6| whereby the breaker arms 53 are oscillated to open and close the contacts 54, 55. In order to provide lubrication for the bearing surfaces of the cam and cam followers, the camis preferably provided with a longitudinal channel 88 (Fig. 1) containing an oil wick which at its lower end engages the ab-. sorbent material 42 in the oil reservoir 4| and at its upper end is arranged to be engaged by the cam followers. It will be understood that the breaker arms 53 are grounded through their pivots and by means of the spring members 56 whereby the contacts are grounded except 45 when lobes of the cam 14 are in engagement-with the cam followers 6|.

The lower end of the frame I is closed by a partition 16 preferably formed integral with the mounting flange 9, and forming on its upper side so a seat for an anti-friction bearing 11 for the lower end of shaft 8. A distributor rotor in the form of a cylindrical block of insulating material 18 is rigidly mounted on the rotor shaft 8 in any suitable manner and is provided with a pair of conductors 18 and 8| having complementary arcuate portions or strips 82 and 83 and axially ofiset terminals 84 and 85. The arcuate strips 82 and 83 are slightly less than semi-circles and the oflset terminals 84 and 85 are oppositely offset and are located at opposite sides of said rotor, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 1, 9, and 10. The rotor block 18 is so located on the shaft 8 that the arou- -.ate strips 82 and 83 come opposite the high tension terminals 36 of the transformer coils 3 and 85 I4, the terminals extending into close proximity to said strips when the parts are assembled whereby the high tension current from the coils is conducted to said strips. A pair of flanges 86 and 81 are preferably formed on said rotor 18 on opposite sides of the strips 82 and 83.

The terminal blocks'4 and 6 are of insulating material and have moulded therein sets of output electrodes 9|, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 1|, I82, I03, I84, I65. and H16 adapted to be connected byinsulated cables indicated collectively by numeral 91 to the spark plugs of the engine, not shown. The cables 91 are anchored in the terminal blocks by suitable means such as the pointed screws 98 which traverse the ends of the electrodes and pierce the cables. The device herein illustrated is adapted for a dual ignition system for a sixcylinder engine so that each terminal block 4 and 6 carries two sets of three electrodes, those in block 4 being numbered 9|, 95, 93, and I06, I02, I04, and those in block 6 being numbered 96, 92, 94, and IN, I05, I03 respectively. When the blocks are assembled on the frame I, the twelve electrodes become arranged in two coaxial circular series of six each, spaced sixty degrees apart, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The electrodes are adapted to be connected by the cables 91 to pairs of spark plugs in the engine cylinders, electrodes 9I and IN being connected to cylinder No. 1, 92 and I02 to cylinder No. 2, etc. It will be noted that the correspondingly numbered electrodes in the two series, such as 9I and IM are spaced 180 degrees apart so that they are simultaneously energized from the rotor terminals 84 and 85. In other words, referring particularly to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that the rotor terminal 85 comes into operative relation with electrodes 96, 92, 94, 9|, 95 and 93 in sequence, corresponding to a firing order of the engine .of 6, 2, 4, I, 5, 3 while the terminal 84 makes simultaneous connections with the corresponding. series of electrodes I06, I 02, I04, IOI, I05, I03.

The terminal blocks 4 and 6 are held in assembled position preferably by a readily detachable connection such as the spring I08 (Fig. 2) having counter-sunk notched openings I09, IIO adapted to engage the grooved posts I I I and H2 and press the blocks against the frame I in an obvious The breaker mechanism is preferably inclosed by a readily detachable cap II3 which is maintained in position by means of spring clips II4 engaging with lugs I I5 on the rim of the breaker cup, and may be provided with ventilator caps I I6 as indicated. The breaker cup 41 is also provided with an arm II1 by which the cup may be rotated-through angles permitted by the arcuate slots 49 in the base of the cup, in order to vary the timing of the breaker mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. of the drawings which shows the circuit diagrams, it will be seen that the primary circuits comprise a battery II8 one term nal of which is grounded as indicated at "9 and the other terminal of which is connected by means of a manual switch I2I through leads I22, resistance elements 23 and connections 22 and 2| to the primary of transformer coils I3 and I4. The opposite terminals of the primary coils are connected through leads 24 and strips 25 to the condensers 26 and through the connections formed by strips 21, brushes 13, posts 69 etc. (Fig. 1) to the fixed contacts 55. When the cam followers 6I of the breaker arms 53 are not engaged by lobes of the cam 14, the movable contacts 54 illustrated in Fig. 10, arcuate portion 83 is positioned to be energized from coil I4, and consequently the high tension current from said coil passes along said strip into the rotor terminal 85 and from thence through the electrode 96, which is opposite said terminal at this time, and its corresponding cable to the spark plug of the cylinder No. 6 of the engine. The high tension current generated by the transformer I3 is simultaneously fed through the arcuate strip 82 to the rotor terminal 84 which is at this time in operative relation with the output electrode I06 in the block 4, which is connected to a second spark plug of cylinder No. 6 of the engine.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device is obvious. Rotation of the shaft 8 by the. engine at half engine speed causes the breaker arms 53 to be operated by the cam 14 so as to break the primary circuits and cause the generation of ignition currents in the proper timed relation to the operation of the engine in the usual well-known manner. The rotor distributor picks up the high tension currents from the transformers I3 and I4 and transmits the same to the output electrodes in the sequence indicated It will be seen that transformer I4 energizes electrodes 96, 92 and 94 by means of the rotor conductor 83, 85, and then energizes electrodes IN, I 05 and I03 by means of the rotor conductor 82, 84, while simultaneously therewith the transformer I3 is energizing electrodes I06, I02, and I04 from the rotor conductors 82, 84 and thereafter electrodes 9 I, 95 and 93 from the rotor conductor 83, 85.

The device here illustrated is adapted for rotation in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 5 and 9, but operation in the reverse di-' rection may readily be secured by simply reversing the position of the breaker arms 53 and transposing the stop posts 60 and the contact posts 69 with its conductor strips 12. The springs 56 will then be fixed to duplicate anchorages I24 (Fig. 5) provided for that purpose.

During operation, if excessive amounts of lubricant are applied to the cam surfaces, it may be found necessary to provide a lubricant guard for the contacts 54, 55. A device for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8 wherein is shown a thimble I25 having a cylindrical portion I26 adapted to surround the cam 14, and having openings I21 to allow the cam followers 6| to engage the cam 14. The mounting flange I28 of this thimble is provided with duplicate openings I30 therein whereby it may be retained by the screws I29 in proper position to guard the contacts '54 and 55 in either direction of rotation of the device.

By reference to Figs. 11 and 12, it will be seen that the arrangement of the terminal blocks 4 and 6 lends itself with great facility to the shielding of the high tension electrodes and cables in order to prevent radiation therefrom which might interfere with radio signals. As there illustrated, the terminal block 4 is enclosed in a metallic shield I3I which is longitudinally split into two parts, a body portion I32 having an inturned fiange I33 adapted to fit beneath the .edge of the block 4 and to be held by said block firmly grounded against the frame I, and a cap I34 adapted to fit over the block 4 and to be secured to the body portion I32 by suitable means such as screws I35 passing through flanges I36 and I31 formed on said'parts.

Registering depressions I38 and I39 are provided in one end of the parts of the shield I3I forming, when the shield is assembled, a circulat opening adapted to receive the end of a metallic sheath I for the cables 9?. The sheath I4I is preferably provided with a terminal flange I42 which is adapted to bear against the inner sides of the parts of the shield I surroundin the opening I38, I39 and prevent withdrawal of the sheath from said opening;

It will be understood that the cables 91 are arranged to traverse the sheath MI and such branches thereof as are necessary in order to completely shield the high tension circuit up to and including the spark plugs in the engine.

It will be noted that the blocks 4 and Ii may be readily removed from the frame I and applied thereto without the necessity of disassembling the shields or disconnecting the cables 91.

Attention is especially called to the advantageous arrangement of the various units upon the frame I whereby each unit is separately removable without disturbing any other unit and whereby the removal of the cap I I3 allows direct access to the breaker mechanism for observation and adjustment without the necessity of removing or disconnecting any of the operating parts.

It is thus possible to observe and adjust the breaker mechanism when the engine is in operation.

The advantages of the arrangement of the coil units and breaker mechanism and the driving means therefor as above set forth may .be obtained in a replacement unit for'a dual ignition system having separate distributors. Such a device is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 in which the parts of the frame, coil units, etc. are similar to those previously illustrated and are similarly numbered. The breaker mechanism has not been illustrated in this figure for the sake of clarity but it is to be understood that this mechanism in this embodiment of the invention is the same as that previously described. Since this device is to be used in conjunction with separate distributors, however, the distributor mechanism on the rotor shaft 8 is omitted, and a sleeve I42 placed thereon for the purpose of spacing the bearings 39 and 11 on said shaft. A pair of high tension cable connectors I43 and I44 are mounted-in a block I45 of insulating material which is adapted to be mounted upon and to close one side of the frame I as by means of screws I46. The connectors I43 and I44 have conductors I41 and I48 which extend, within the frame I and are provided at their inner ends with suitable connecting means such as spring brushes closed by a suitable plate I52 retained thereon by ineans such as screws I53.

The operation of this device is similar to that previously described except that the cables from the connectors I43 and I44 are led to the separate distributor devices, not shown, of the installation of which this device forms a replacement for the breaker and transformer mechanism.

Although certain forms, dimensions and arrangements of the parts have been shown and described in detail. it will be understood that various changes may be made in such particulars, and certain features thereof used without other features, and other embodiments of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

i. A distributor mechanism for dual ignition systems of internal combustion engines including a rotor having a plurality of conductors in axially offset relation, a plurality of sets of output 5 electrodes arranged to cooperate in sequence with said conductors, a plurality of sources of high tension current, and commutating means on said rotor for connecting each of said conductors to each of said sources of high tensio 10 current in sequence.

2. A distributor mechanism for dual ignition systems of internal combustion engines including a rotor having a plurality of conductors in axially offset relation, a plurality of sets of output electrodes arranged in correspondingly offset relation to cooperate with said conductors and means for connecting said conductors in sequence to a source of high tension current whereby said source is' connected first to the out- 20 put electrodes of one set and then to those of another set.

3. In an ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines including a plurality of low tension and of high tension circuits, breaker mech- 25,- anism for controlling said low tension circuits,

a rotor having means on one end for operating the breaker mechanism, stationary high tension terminals arranged adjacent an intermediate portion of said rotor, a series of stationary out- 30 put electrodes also arranged adjacent said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion having means for periodically conducting a discharge from said high tension terminals to each of said output electrodes. I 35.

4. A breaker-distributor mechanism for internal combustion engines including a substan tially rectangular hollow frame, a breaker device movably mounted on one end of said frame, a

plurality of high tension transformers remov- 0 ably mounted on the sides of said frame and having their primaries connected to said break- .er device, said connections being automatically made and broken by the mounting and dismounting of the transformers and the breaker; device on said frame. I

5. A breaker-distributor mechanism for internal combustion engines including a substantially rectangular hollow frame, a breaker device movably mounted on one end of said frame, a plurality of high tension transformers removably mounted on the sides of said frame and having their primaries connected to said breaker device. a plurality of output electrodes removably mounted on the sides of said frame, means 455 mounted in the frame for periodically connecting the high tension terminals of said coils to said output electrodes, the high tension connections being automatically made and broken by the mounting and dismounting of the trans-' formers and of the high tension electrodes on said frame.

6. A breaker-distributor mechanism for in ternal combustion engines including a substantially rectangularhollow frame, a breaker device movably mounted on one end of said frame, a plurality of high tension transformers removably mopnted on the sides of said frame, a rotor in said frame having cam means for operating said breaker device and having a distributor for periodically connecting the high tension terminals of the transformers to said output electrodes, both said transformer connections being automatically made and broken by the mounting and dismounting of the transformers on said frame.

7. In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, a skeleton frame, a cap arranged to close one side of said frame, a transformer coil mounted as a unit in said cap and having a high tension element exposed toward the interlor of said frame, a block arranged to close another side of said frame, output electrodes rigidly mounted in said block extending toward the interior of said frame, and a rotary distributor in said frame having conductors arranged to periodically connect said high tension terminal with each of said electrodes.

8. In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, a skeleton frame, a plurality of caps arranged to be detachably mounted on opposite sides of said frame, a transformer coil mounted as a unit in each cap and having a high tension terminal exposed toward the interior of said frame, a plurality of blocks detachably mounted on said frame in alternation with said caps and having sets of output electrodes forming a plurality of circular series thereof within said frame, and a rotary distributor within said frame arranged to periodically connect each high tension terminal with certain sets of said output electrodes.

9. In an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, a skeleton frame, a breaker device adapted to be mounted in the end of said frame, a cap arranged to close a side of said frame, and a transformer coil mounted as a unit in said cap, said breaker device and said transformer coil having conductors which are arranged to project within said frame and make electrical connection with each other when the breaker device and the cap are placed in position on the frame.

10. In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, a skeleton frame, an output device mounted therein, a breaker device adapted to be mounted in the end of said frame, a cap arranged to close a side of said frame and a transformer coil mounted as a unit in said cap, said transformer coil having conductors arranged to project within said frame, and said output device and breaker device having conductors adapted to make electrical connection with the corresponding conductors of the transformer coil when the cap and the breaker device are placed in position on the frame.

11.In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, a metallic skeleton frame, an insulating block arranged to close a side of said frame, output electrodes in said block, and a metallic shield for the exposed parts of said block removable as a unit with said block and adapted to be grounded to said frame when the block is mounted therein, said shield having an opening for a cable sheath on one side and being split in the plane of said opening. 5

12. In an ignition device for internal combustion engines, a metallic skeleton frame, an insulating block arranged to close a side of said frame, output electrodes in said block, and a metallic shield for the exposed parts of said block removable as a unit with said block and adapted to be grounded to said frame when the block is mounted therein, said shield having an opening for a cable sheath on one side and being split in the plane of said opening into-a body portion and a cap portion, said body portion being so formed as to be held by said block against said frame, and the cap portion being separately removable.

13. In an igmtion device for internal combustion engines, a metallic skeleton frame, an insulating block arranged to close a side of said frame, output electrodes in said block, insulated cables anchored to said electrodes in said block, and a metallic shield for the exposed parts ofsaid block, removable as a unit with said block, said shield having an opening on one side and being split in the plane of said opening to form a body portion and a removable cap portion, and a metallic sheath for said cables adapted to enter said opening and to be locked therein when the cap and 80 body portions of the shield are in assembled relation.

14. A distributor mechanism for dual ignition systems of internal combustion engines including a. rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced conductors, a plurality of axially spaced sets of output electrodes circumferentially spaced about said rotor and arranged to cooperate with said conductors, sources of high tension current, and commutating means on said rotor for conmeeting each of said conductors in sequence to each of said sources of high tension current.

15. In an ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines including low and high tension circuits, breaker mechanism for controlling said low tension circuit, a rotor driven at one end and having means at the free end for operating the breaker mechanism, sources of high tension current. high tension terminals connected thereto, and a circumferentially arranged set of output electrodes adjacent an intermediate portion of said rotor, said intermediate portion having a conductor for periodically completing a high tension circuitthrough each said high tension terminal and each of said output electrodes. [5

WALTER J. SPENGLER. 

